2521 Advancing Treatments for Inherited Retinal Diseases (May 21, 2025)
Show Notes
Research is key to fighting blinding eye diseases. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jason Menzo, CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, about advancing treatments for inherited retinal diseases, funding research initiatives, and launching new mental health resources to support individuals with blindness and low vision.
2520 Accessible Devices Change Diabetes Care (May 14, 2025)
2520 Accessible Devices Change Diabetes Care (May 14, 2025)
Show Notes
How do visually impaired individuals manage diabetes independently? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Veronica Elsea and Patricia Maddix about accessible insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, and their advocacy work for non-visual medical tools. Both women share their personal journeys navigating diabetes care as blind individuals.
2519 From Braille Music to the Big Screen (May 7, 2025)
2519 From Braille Music to the Big Screen (May 7, 2025)
Show Notes
Rod Clemmons, who has been blind since birth, shares his journey from being a classically trained pianist to an R&B performer, producer and composer. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Rod about his experiences as a visually impaired musician, his passion for rhythm and blues, and his work scoring the upcoming film ‘A Jeannie for Christmas’.
2518 Lighting the Way with the See Me Cane (Apr. 30, 2025)
2518 Lighting the Way with the See Me Cane (Apr. 30, 2025)
Show Notes
Navigating in low light can be risky for blind pedestrians. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kelvin Crosby about the See Me Cane, which increases visibility with built-in LED lighting. Kelvin also shares his path from vision loss to advocacy, vocational training, and launching an assistive tech program that hires blind professionals.
2517 The Able Artist Foundation (Apr. 23, 2025)
2517 The Able Artist Foundation (Apr. 23, 2025)
Show Notes
The Able Artist Foundation supports low-income disabled musicians around the world by providing discounted music software and hardware to its members. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Stephen Letnes about what motivated him to start the organization, their company partners, and about the special programs they offer for their members.
2516 Dinner Delivered (Apr. 16, 2025)
2516 Dinner Delivered (Apr. 16, 2025)
Show Notes
“Dinner Delivered” is a guide for visually impaired individuals on using grocery and meal delivery services. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kim Loftis Nova, who co-authored the book with Chris Grabowski Nova, about navigating platforms like Instacart, Shipt, and DoorDash. Kim shares her experiences using these services as well as practical tips for using them.
2515 The Dark Room Podcast for Movie Lovers (Apr. 9, 2025)
2515 The Dark Room Podcast for Movie Lovers (Apr. 9, 2025)
Show Notes
Dive into the world of movies from a visually impaired perspective. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Alex Howard and Lee Pugsley, co-hosts of The Dark Room podcast, about what motivated them to start the podcast, their experiences at movie theaters, challenges with some audio description services, and improving theater accessibility.
2514 Re-learning Life Skills After Vision loss (Apr. 2, 2025)
2514 Re-learning Life Skills After Vision loss (Apr. 2, 2025)
Show Notes
What does it take to relearn life skills after vision loss? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Erich Manser about his experiences with blindness training programs, transitioning from magnification to screen readers, and finding value in non-visual techniques. Erich’s journey offers insights into overcoming challenges and learning new skills.
2513 Arizona Vacation with PiccyBot and Be My Eyes (Mar. 26, 2025)
2513 Arizona Vacation with PiccyBot and Be My Eyes (Mar. 26, 2025)
Show Notes
Experience the vivid landscapes of Arizona as enhanced by detailed descriptions by AI. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey used various AI services like PiccyBot and Be My Eyes to describe their adventures in the Sonoran Desert, the Phoenix Botanical Garden, Sedona’s trails, and more. Explore how technology can enhance the visually impaired’s experience of nature.
2512 Benetech Celebrates 25 Years of Making Books Accessible for Everyone (Mar. 19, 2025)
2512 Benetech Celebrates 25 Years of Making Books Accessible for Everyone (Mar. 19, 2025)
Show Notes
Benetech’s work has transformed how people with disabilities access information. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with founder Jim Fruchterman and CEO Ayan Kishore about the evolution of Bookshare, the use of AI in accessibility, the Global Certified Accessible program, and how Benetech’s efforts have impacted digital publishing and education.
2511 Encore of 2201 The Dream Of A Lifetime (Mar. 12, 2025)
2511 Encore of 2201 The Dream Of A Lifetime (Mar. 12, 2025)
Show Notes
The MacArthur Fellowship is a $625,000, no-strings-attached award to extraordinarily talented and creative individuals as an investment in their potential. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Josh Miele, blind since childhood and one of the 2021 fellows, about how his work in the field of accessibility led to him receiving this special award.
2510 Connecting Dots – A Blind Life (Mar. 5, 2025)
2510 Connecting Dots – A Blind Life (Mar. 5, 2025)
Show Notes
Joshua Miele is a MacArthur Award-winning accessibility expert who became blind at age 4. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with him about his new memoir “Connecting Dots – A Blind Life”, his experiences at UC Berkeley and how he came to work in accessibility, his shift from using a guide dog to a cane and how he hopes his book will reshape views on blindness.
2509 Sedona Dave and His Awarewolf Gear Cane Lab (Feb. 26, 2025)
2509 Sedona Dave and His Awarewolf Gear Cane Lab (Feb. 26, 2025)
Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey’s Arizona vacation took an unexpected turn when Pete’s All Terrain Hiking Cane needed repair. Fortunately, Sedona Dave, designer of the cane, lived just a few minutes from their hotel. Inviting them into his “Cane Lab”, Dave not only repaired the cane, but also described the various canes offered by Awarewolf Gear.
2508 Biped Offers Enhanced Functionality with NOA (Feb. 19, 2025)
2508 Biped Offers Enhanced Functionality with NOA (Feb. 19, 2025)
Show Notes
The original Biped navigation device has been upgraded and renamed NOA. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Mael Fabien, co-founder and CEO of Biped AI, about NOA, a wearable AI device offering obstacle detection, navigation feedback, and real-time scene descriptions. They discuss the vest’s design, how it works, and the latest upgrades.
2507 Stay Fit with Remote Fitness Coaching (Feb. 12, 2025)
2507 Stay Fit with Remote Fitness Coaching (Feb. 12, 2025)
Show Notes
Just because you are visually impaired doesn’t mean you can’t stay fit and healthy. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Evan Schwerbrock, founder of Cane and Able Fitness and the world’s strongest blind man, about his remote training approach, the importance of small steps in fitness, and his journey from vision loss to competing in adaptive strength events.
2506 AppleVis and the Power of Community (Feb. 5, 2025)
2506 AppleVis and the Power of Community (Feb. 5, 2025)
Show Notes
AppleVis is a hub for visually impaired users of Apple products. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with David Nason and Scott Davert, members of the AppleVis editorial team, about the evolution of the platform, the resources available on AppleVis, the recent partnership with Be My Eyes, and the expansion to cover products outside of the Apple ecosystem.
2505 A Crash Course in Confidence (Jan. 29, 2025)
2505 A Crash Course in Confidence (Jan. 29, 2025)
Show Notes
Want to kick start your progress to independence? Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kurt Deichmann and Brian Clark of First Aid for the Blind about their innovative training program. The week-long remote sessions teach life-changing skills and provide vital tools to newly blind individuals, helping them quickly regain confidence and independence.
2504 Checkmate – Anyone Can Play Chess (Jan. 22, 2025)
2504 Checkmate – Anyone Can Play Chess (Jan. 22, 2025)
Show Notes
Playing chess with vision loss? Why not! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Glenn Crawford, Rita Crawford, and Marilyn Bland from the United States Blind Chess Association (USBCA). They discuss special equipment, correspondence games, and the challenges and rewards of the game. Learn about the USBCA’s resources and outreach programs.
2503 Building Skills and Breaking Stigmas (Jan. 15,
2503 Building Skills and Breaking Stigmas (Jan. 15, 2025)
Show Notes
The Blind Institute of Technology (BIT) empowers people with disabilities through skill development, training, and career placement. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Kristy Schenderlein, Director of Operations at BIT, about their innovative programs, funding model, and the critical role of assistive technology in workplace success.
2502 Encore of 1404 Life as the Partner of a Blind Person (Jan. 8, 2025)
2502 Encore of 1404 Life as the Partner of a Blind Person (Jan. 8, 2025)
Show Notes
Eyes On Success usually focuses on products, services and daily living stories for and about people with vision loss. This week’s episode covers what it’s like for a sighted partner of a blind person. We’ve been married for 41 years and he’s been blind since long before that. Nancy continues to learn what’s special about life with Pete.
2501 Blind Not Broken – From the Other Side (Jan. 1, 2025)
2501 Blind Not Broken – From the Other Side (Jan. 1, 2025)
Show Notes
Lucy Edwards went suddenly blind just months into her relationship with Ollie Edwards-Cave when they were both in their teens. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Ollie about how he stood by her and supported her through years of struggles and depression. We also talk about Lucy’s book “Blind Not Broken” that details their experiences.
2452 AI Takes the Microphone (Dec. 25, 2024)
2452 AI Takes the Microphone (Dec. 25, 2024)
Show Notes
Celebrate the end of 2024 with Eyes On Success in this year-end special! Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey usher in the new year with two pairs of AI-powered podcast hosts who talk about the show and its creators, then unveil a fresh website design for 2025, and finish with a special song written by Pete celebrating multi-cultural seasonal holidays.
2451 Google Leverages AI to Enhance Accessibility (Dec. 18, 2024)
2451 Google Leverages AI to Enhance Accessibility (Dec. 18, 2024)
Show Notes
Android is now more accessible with enhanced tools for the visually impaired, including updates to TalkBack, the Magnifier app, Lookout and Selfie Illumination. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Lisie Lillianfeld and Sejal D’Souza, product managers at Google, about these features, improvements in Chrome, and other AI-driven tools that make navigating the digital world easier.
2450 Hilton and Be My Eyes Join Forces (Dec. 11, 2024)
2450 Hilton and Be My Eyes Join Forces (Dec. 11, 2024)
Show Notes
Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Nicole Bergstrom, Hilton’s Sr. Director of Digital Accessibility, about Hilton’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. Learn about their partnership with Be My Eyes, using Hilton staff or AI to assist visually impaired individuals and discover how Hilton is using technology to improve the guest experience for everyone.
2449 Accessible Materials for a Spiritual Life (Dec. 4, 2024)
2449 Accessible Materials for a Spiritual Life (Dec. 4, 2024)
Show Notes
Accessible religious materials enable people to fully engage with their communities. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Livia Thompson from JBI and Malachy Fallon from Xavier Society for the Blind about how each organization produces materials in braille, audio, and large print to help visually impaired patrons participate in family and congregational events.
2448 Guide to iOS 18 Enhancements for Accessibility (Nov. 27, 2024)
2448 Guide to iOS 18 Enhancements for Accessibility (Nov. 27, 2024)
Show Notes
Shelly Brisbin, a technology journalist and author, discusses the new revision of her book “iOS Access for All – Your comprehensive guide to accessibility for iPhone and iPad”. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Shelly about new features in iOS for blind and low vision users, including enhancements to braille keyboard, point and speak, hover typing, and Apple Intelligence.
2447 Unseen – Life as a Blind Immigrant (Nov. 20, 2024)
2447 Unseen – Life as a Blind Immigrant (Nov. 20, 2024)
Show Notes
Pedro, a blind immigrant, recounts his journey toward education and a career in social work. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Pedro and Set Hernandez, director of the documentary “Unseen: Life as a Blind Immigrant,” which describes Pedro’s journey. They delve into the obstacles, anxieties, and challenges Pedro encountered along the way.
2446 Encore of 1913 Two Blind Brothers Clothing Line (Nov. 13, 2024)
2446 Encore of 1913 Two Blind Brothers Clothing Line (Nov. 13, 2024)
Show Notes
Two Blind Brothers makes ultra-soft clothing from natural fibers for the sole purpose of funding blindness research and being part of finding a cure. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with brothers and founders Bryan and Bradford Manning, who are both blind, about how their company got started and what is special about their clothing line.
2445 Shopping Made Simple with Innosearch AI (Nov. 6, 2024)
2445 Shopping Made Simple with Innosearch AI (Nov. 6, 2024)
Show Notes
Discover how Innosearch AI is revolutionizing online shopping for the visually impaired. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Patrick Long and Bryan Vuong, co-founders of Innosearch AI, about their AI-powered platform designed to make shopping easier and more accessible with a simplified interface and the ability to ask questions of the AI.
2444 Encore of 1739 Running with a Remote Aira Guide (Oct. 30, 2024)
2444 Encore of 1739 Running with a Remote Aira Guide (Oct. 30, 2024)
Show Notes
Aira is a service developed to give the blind instant access to information using a smart phone, a video camera, and a remote sighted agent. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Erich Manser, a blind distance runner and triathlete, and Jess Jakeway, a sighted distance runner who served as Erich’s remote guide using Aira at the 2017 Boston Marathon.
2443 Aira Anytime Anywhere (Oct. 23, 2024)
2443 Aira Anytime Anywhere (Oct. 23, 2024)
Show Notes
Learn how Aira is revolutionizing accessibility for the visually impaired with its blend of human interpreters and AI. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Everette Bacon, Chief of Blindness Initiatives, about Aira’s partnerships offering free services in many locations. Find out how Aira provides secure access to visual information anytime, anywhere.
2442 NotebookLM from Google (Oct. 16, 2024)
2442 NotebookLM from Google (Oct. 16, 2024)
Show Notes
NotebookLM is a powerful AI tool being developed by Google. Working with NotebookLM, users can summarize complex information, create study guides, and generate dynamic discussions based on their own documents. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey also demonstrate how NotebookLM can be used to generate engaging audio with two interacting personalities.
